Club History

The club was founded in 1993. Originally there was a single monthly meeting (in Sutton-in-Ashfield), this was soon increased at the request of the members to two meetings a month.

Many more formal clubs depend on demonstrations, talks and slideshows with occasional workshops. At Ashfield the emphasis is very much towards the informal and "hands on". Members regularly bring their own own material to meetings. The club caters for a wide range of experience in bonsai and welcomes new members. Advice is available from the more seasoned and creative members and we try to foster a relaxed, "family feel" with everyone having a say in the clubs affairs. Each year we invite one or two speakers of international fame to present to us, and we occasionally organise weekend workshops with well known bonsai personalties. Presently our meetings are held in the comfortable and spacious church hall at South Normanton and new members are always welcome.

In 2019 the club members will continue to exhibit at major exhibitions both at home and abroad, with trees enterred for the Swindon Winter Image show in February (where the club has also been invited to present a display stand), and at the Bonsai Expo in April.

Members will also be attending the Trophy Exhibition in Belgium in February, the Doncaster show in March and other shows throughout the year

Friday 20 December 2019

First annual baby spruce competition


As a club with some long-standing members and excellent show trees seen nationally and internationally, sometimes it is good to get back to basics.

About a year or so ago I stumbled across some small spruce trees in my local garden centre at something like 75p each for an established seedling maybe 125mm high. A dozen were purchased and handed out to everyone who attended the next club meeting, with the instruction “do your best and bring it back for a show in a years’ time”.

So last night was the first annual baby spruce competition. Bad weather and illness meant the numbers were down a little but still we had 5 interesting trees on show and a couple of email entries via the club WhatsApp group.

First was Chris’s lovely composition on rock



Second was Pauls semi cascade (i think he's been sitting next to brock too long)


Thirdly my slanting style composition




It was interesting to see how identical 75p saplings have taken different paths within a year.

Special mention to Dave Shaw who hand painted the lovely screen you can see in some of the pictures and who brought along his kit for people to have a go.

Then we had a lovely Xmas buffet provided by Chris, some excellent nibbles, many thanks

Happy Christmas and a Happy new year
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